Edmund jansen



(No Model.)

B. JANSEN. Clasp Knife.

No. 229,706. Patented July 6, I880 I I I l I I I I l I I l I I I I I l I I I I I I I I I I I I If' J II .I'.

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Wa'iiw/mz aim fllf am i umw #1447 I N4 PETERS, PHOTO-LITIIOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D 2v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND J ANSEN OF SOLINGEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO AUGUST BCNTGEN AND LOUIS SABIN, OF SAME PLACE.

CLASP-KNIFE;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,706, dated July 6, 1880.

Application filed April 6, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND J ANSEN, a citizen of the German Empire, residing at Solingen, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasp-Knives; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full. clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and

to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in clasp-knives, and has for its object a greater economy in construction and a better adaptation to the purposes for which such knives are usually employed.

The invention consists, essentially, in adapting the handle to be swung around upon the blade to bare the latter, instead of swinging the latter upon a pivot on the handle, as has been the practice heretofore in all knives of this class.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations, showing the knife closed and opened, respectively. Fig. 3 is a front elevation, showing the knife open. Figs. 4 and 5 are top and bottom plan views.

Like letters of reference are employed in the above figures of drawings to indicate like parts wherever such may occur.

A represents the blade, of any preferred shape, the tangaof which is provided with two pivot-holes, a a

B is the haft, made in two sections, 12 b, as shown, to which the tang of the blade is pivoted at a The outer shells or scales, B B, of the haft (No model.)

which laps over the opposite section, and said latch has a projection or lip, c, which serves to hold the two sections firmly together by springing over the edge of said sections.

D is a pin or stud projecting from opposite sides of the tang of the blade, and serves as a stop to hold said blade rigidly in'position when open, each haft-section being provided with a semicircular recess to receive said pin.

The operation of the knife is as follows: When the knife is closed, as shown in Fig. 1, the latch O is swung down to release the bail:- sections, which are then swung around upon their pivots a a until their backs meet, as shown by dotted lines in said figure and full lines, Fig.2. The pin D will then liein the recesses d, and prevent the blade from movingin either direction. When in this position the latch O is again swung up to lock the two haftsections together, not onlyformin g a firm hearing for the blade, which is thus held upon three points of the tang-namely, a, a, and O-but also a smooth and firm hold for the hand, and when the knife is again inclosed within the haft by swinging the sections of the latter back again into the position shown in Fig. 1, the said knife lies entirely in the haft, as it inclosed within a casing, the tang closing it at one end and the haft-sections on the other end and on both sides, as will be readily seen.

By this means the blade is kept free from all dust or dirt, and when such has access to the haft when the knife is in use it may be readily removed, owing to the partible nature of the said haft.

Another important feature consists in the economy of construction resulting from the fact that no spring is needed, nor is it necessary to provide the blade with the usual nailnotch. The opening and closing of the knife are also greatly facilitated; nor does this peculiar construction necessitate a greater bulk of haft than is usual. Finally, all danger of injury from the accidental closing of the blade when in use is avoided.

From what has been said above, it will be readily understood that this peculiar construction of bait and blade connections is applicable to any description of instrument one section of which is to be folded in the other, and

will be found especially valuable for surgical and other like instruments.

Having now described my intention, what I claim is- 1. In a clasp-knife, the combination, with the blade, of a handle, made in two sections, pivoted at one end to opposite sides of said blade, and arranged to be rotated upon their pivots to bare or inclose the blade, snbstalr tially as set forth.

2. In a clasp'knit'e, the combination, with the blade and a handle, made in two sections. pivoted to opposite sides otsaid blade, and arranged to be rotated upon their pivots, for the purpose set forth, of appliances, substantially as described, for locking the free end of the handle-sections when the blade is bared or inclosed therein, as set forth.

3. In a clasp-knife, the combination, with the blade, of a sectional handle pivoted thereto and arranged to swing around the pivots, as set forth, and constructed to form the front, back, and the two side inclosing-walls, and a latch arranged to form one of the end inclosing-walls for the blade when closed, the tang of the latter forming the other end closure, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the pivoted haftsections B B, provided with recesses d, of the blade A and its stop-pin D, operating substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDMUND JANSEN.

Witnesses:

JUL. KRASSMANN, \VILII. HEGELISH. 

